The 8th standard student's enthusiasm caught the attention of Sports Authority of India coach Mary Victoria, who asked him to attend the beginners' camp at Nandan ground in Austin Town.

Later, she introduced him to veteran coach Dada Peer, who was in charge of the Department of Youth Services and Sports-run Sports School at Vidyanagar.

During his term in Department of Youth Services and Sports-run Sports School, he failed to impress State coaches during the trials for Under-16 team.

Karnataka's campaign ended in the semifinals, but the left wing back's career graph began to rise and he landed at the National camp in Gujarat.

[3] A couple of days before the camp concluded, Vishal was forced to return to Bangalore with a broken left forearm, which he sustained during the late stages of a match while attempting a bicycle kick.

Now he carries Karnataka's football legacy at the national level, as he was the State's lone representative in the Indian probable list for the Olympic qualifiers against Qatar.